Harry Potter | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia "You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you." —Dumbledore to Harry after the latter escaped from Voldemort [src] On 25 August , 1994 Harry, the Weasley family (besides Mrs Weasley ), and Hermione Granger attended the Quidditch World Cup. At Stoatshead Hill, Cedric Diggory and his father, Amos joined them. Once at the camp grounds, they met Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch Snr with his house-elf Winky, and many other Hogwarts students and their families, including: Seamus Finnigan , Dean Thomas , Oliver Wood , and Draco Malfoy . They were able to see the match between the Irish and Bulgarian national teams up close, because Harry, the Weasleys, and Hermione had seats in the Top Box, thanks to a favour Mr Weasley had done for Ludo Bagman . It was during this World Cup that Harry learned of the existence of foreign wizarding schools, something he had not given any thought to before the cup.

The reappearance of the Dark Mark at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup The night after the match, while the Irish team's supporters were still celebrating, a group of black-cloaked, hooded figures held terrifying celebrations of their own by suspending the Muggle camp site manager and his family in air like twisted marionettes probably done via Levicorpus . On Mr Weasley's orders, Harry fled into the woods near the camp site, along with Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny. The group was separated in the woods, and in the chaos, Harry had lost his wand. The trio ran into Draco Malfoy, and he all but told them that his father was among the cloaked wizards. Later, Harry learned that Barty Crouch Jr had stolen his wand from his pocket. While in a clearing in the woods, Harry, Ron, and Hermione heard someone shout the incantation Morsmordre , casting the Dark Mark — a green skull with a snake protruding from its mouth like a tongue — into the sky. Although Harry did not immediately recognise its significance, he soon learned that the Dark Mark had evil implications.

Then, Barty Crouch Snr, Amos Diggory, and other Ministry of Magic employees Apparated into the clearing and began to question Harry, Ron, and Hermione about the Dark Mark. After Harry mentioned he had heard another voice conjure the Dark Mark, the Ministry employees searched the area and found the house-elf Winky unconscious in the bushes. Since Harry's wand was found in Winky's hand, Mr Crouch fired her for bringing shame to his family. At the Hogwarts start-of-term feast, Professor Dumbledore announced that Hogwarts would host the Triwizard Tournament , a recently revived inter-school competition in which the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute would also participate. New rules stated that only students seventeen and older could compete, for safety reasons. Also, during the start of term feast, Dumbledore introduced "Mad-Eye" Moody , an ex-Auror, as the newly appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. This news was greeted with a mixture of responses, as Moody was known to be a great Auror , a little crazy, and to have a magical eye, earning him the nickname "Mad-Eye" Moody.

The Goblet of Fire selects Harry as the fourth champion Around Hallowe'en, the students from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute arrived at the school. Viktor Krum , Fleur Delacour , and Cedric Diggory were all chosen to represent their respective schools in this tournament. However, Harry was mysteriously chosen as a fourth competitor, even though he was under-age and even though he had never entered his name into the Goblet of Fire during the selection process. Many people, even Ron, did not believe Harry's story, believing this to be nothing but another attempt to gain fame. This caused extreme tension between the two friends. Hermione, on the other hand, "accepted his story without question", and assisted Harry in preparing for the Tournament by teaching him useful spells, such as the Summoning Charm , which Harry used in the first task of the Tournament. The champions were to face three dangerous challenges on their way to the Triwizard Cup. A few days after his name came out of the Goblet, Harry attended the wand weighing ceremony , where his wand was inspected.

There the notorious Daily Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter asked him many leading questions, took everything he said out of context, and wrote a ludicrous article about him and Hermione. Harry faces a Hungarian Horntail in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament In the first task, each champion needed to get past a dragon in order to collect a golden egg . Harry received help from Hagrid , who showed the dragons to him. Realising that every champion but Cedric had found out about the dragons, Harry told Cedric about the first task, trying to level the playing field. The newly appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor Moody, witnessed Harry telling Cedric, but did not report him. Instead he advised Harry to play to his strengths, hinting that he should use his flying ability to get the golden egg. Four different dragons were chosen for each of the champions to face. On 24 November , Fleur ended up with the Common Welsh Green , Cedric with the Swedish Short-Snout , Viktor Krum with the Chinese Fireball , and Harry faced the Hungarian Horntail (the most dangerous of the four).

Harry used a Summoning Charm to bring him his Firebolt and dodged the Hungarian Horntail to get the golden egg. Harry and Viktor Krum tied for first at the end of the task. After seeing how dangerous the task was, Ron, as well as the other students, made amends with Harry, with Ron telling him, "I reckon someone is trying to do you in". Harry managed to complete the first task with only an injured arm. Harry in his Yule Ball attire on Christmas day Between the first and second tasks, the Yule Ball , a Triwizard Tournament tradition took place on Christmas. Ron , dismayed to discover that Viktor Krum had asked Hermione to go with him, called her out for "consorting with the enemy" though he and Hermione acted as if they had not fought the following day. Harry asked his long-time crush Cho Chang to attend the Yule Ball with him, but was disappointed to learn that she had already accepted an invitation from Cedric Diggory. Harry and Ron ended up attending with Parvati and Padma Patil , respectively. They both ended up neglecting their dates, as Harry watched Cho with Cedric, and Ron was overcome with jealousy for Viktor Krum, who danced with Hermione.

After the Yule Ball, Rita Skeeter struck again. She had overheard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his family and his heritage. She then wrote an article exposing Hagrid as a half-giant , and he was so ashamed that he stopped teaching and stopped coming to meals in the Great Hall . Dumbledore tried to bring him around by visiting his hut, but to no avail. Only after Harry, Ron, and Hermione proved that they still liked and that it did not matter to them that he was half-giant did he finally return to his post. To prepare for the second task, Harry was told that he had to open the egg he had won from the dragon, but every time he did, it let out a horrifying screech. His rescue from that particular problem came when Cedric Diggory paid him back with the information that he would figure it out if he were to "mull things over in the hot water" with the egg. Harry followed this advice and decided to take a bath in the prefects' bathroom . He had an uncomfortable exchange with Moaning Myrtle , and on the way back to the common room, he ran into Professors Snape and Moody.

The latter informed Harry of Barty Crouch Snr 's obsession with catching Dark Wizards . Harry meets the Merpeople colony in the Black Lake during the second task Harry learned that the second task was going into the Black Lake to rescue "the thing they would miss most" from the merpeople . Harry's new problem was that he had no idea of how to survive underwater for an hour. He got his answer in the form of gillyweed from Dobby , who had come to work at Hogwarts. The second task took place on 24 February . Harry was to save his best friend Ron but when he reached him, he was shocked to find Hermione, Cho, and Gabrielle Delacour , Fleur's sister, there as well. After Cedric had rescued Cho and Viktor had rescued Hermione, Harry hung around, and, concerned for Gabrielle, he saved her as well as Ron. The judges were then informed that Harry reached to hostages first. He was outside the hour that had been allotted, although doing so earned him extra points for "moral fibre". After the second task had finished, Harry and Cedric were tied for first, Viktor was in second, and Fleur was in last place.

A month before the final task, the Champions were shown the beginnings of the challenge. They were told the third and final task was going into a maze filled with obstacles to find the Triwizard Cup . On the way back to the castle , Krum took Harry aside to ask him something. Thinking that this was something important, Harry went with him. Krum then asked Harry about his relationship with Hermione, in whom Krum was deeply interested. Harry told him that there was nothing between him and Hermione and that she was just a friend. He also told Krum not to believe anything Rita Skeeter , who had recently written in Witch Weekly that there was a Harry-Hermione-Krum love triangle, wrote about him. At that moment, Barty Crouch Snr appeared in the forest disoriented and asking for Dumbledore. He disappeared when Harry went to fetch Dumbledore. Harry in the hedge maze with an Imperiused Viktor Krum To prepare for the final task, Harry, Ron, and Hermione used vacant classrooms to practise spells and jinxes. In Divination class between two of these study periods, Harry dozed off dreaming about Voldemort and left the classroom in a disturbing fashion.

Rita Skeeter had witnessed this event and she wrote, on 24 June , 1995 , the day of the final task, that Harry was "disturbed and dangerous". This did nothing to boost Harry's morale, but when he spent the day with Bill and Molly Weasley, they cheered him up. They also came to watch the final task as his substitute family. During this final event, Hogwarts champions Cedric Diggory and Harry both showed supreme sportsmanship and cooperation despite the tension brought on by the maze and agreed to touch the Triwizard Cup simultaneously, planning to tie for first place. They were unaware that the cup was actually a portkey and were transported to the graveyard in Little Hangleton , the Riddle family's final resting place, where Lord Voldemort was waiting. On Voldemort's orders, his servant Wormtail murdered Cedric with the Killing Curse . Harry saw a flash of green light and heard Cedric's body hit the graveyard's ground with a thud.

Harry duels Voldemort in a battle of wills, triggering the effect of Priori Incantatem Harry was bound to Tom Riddle Snr 's tombstone and was forced to witness a ritual in which Pettigrew used some of Harry's blood to restore Voldemort's body . At which time, the Death Eaters were summoned to the cemetery. After Voldemort regained a full-size human form and explained his downfall and disappearance to his followers, he engaged Harry in a duel . Voldemort then tortured Harry by subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse and used the Imperius Curse but when it didn't work, tried to murder him using the Killing Curse. The nature of their wands' mystical connection caused their magical streams to interlock, which created an effect called Priori Incantatem (Reverse Spell effect). After a battle of wills with Voldemort, Harry was momentarily shielded by the echoes of Lord Voldemort's previous victims, including Harry's parents and Cedric, with the last of whom asking Harry to return his body to his parents, which allowed Harry some time to grab Cedric's body and the Portkey and escape back to Hogwarts.

It was uncovered that Barty Crouch Jr, who had willingly taken the Dark Mark as a young man, was throughout the school year disguised as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor Moody. In a terrible turn of fate, Crouch's soul was destroyed by the Dementor's Kiss from the Dementor that accompanied Cornelius Fudge . As a result, he could not give testimony, and the Ministry of Magic began to dispute Harry's and Dumbledore's insistence that Voldemort had returned, insisting that Dumbledore was trying to stir up trouble and that Harry was insane. Fifth year Molly Weasley: "All right, that's enough! He's just a boy! You might as well induct him into the Order !" Harry: "Good, then I want to join! If Voldemort's building up an army then I want to fight!" — Harry's willingness to fight Voldemort and his followers [src] Harry with others in 12 Grimmauld Place preparing to clean Witnessing Cedric Diggory's murder was very difficult for Harry, and it was not helpful that he was forced back to number 4 Privet Drive in the school holidays.

Also his friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger seemed to block him from information and he was blocked entirely from the wizarding world except for the Daily Prophet that said that Harry was wrong. To make things worse than they were already, on 2 August someone (Dolores Umbridge) sent Dementors to attack Harry in the Muggle town of Little Whinging , in an attempt to neutralise him. He was forced to perform a Patronus Charm in order to save Dudley and himself. Subsequently, Harry was formally accused of performing under-age magic in the presence of a Muggle and was expelled, but thanks to Albus Dumbledore's intervention, this was changed to a disciplinary hearing in front of the entire Wizengamot at the Ministry of Magic on 12 August. In a further attempt to discredit Harry, the Ministry changed the time and location of the hearing at the last minute, but Harry was able to make it there just minutes late. He was threatened with expulsion from Hogwarts, but was exonerated with help from Dumbledore, who had a witness and legal loopholes to help him.

In retaliation against Dumbledore, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge appointed Dolores Umbridge , his Senior Under-Secretary, as the new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher so that she could spy on the school. She was later appointed Hogwarts High Inquisitor , empowered to arbitrarily change and impose school rules whenever she chose. Moreover, every time Harry spoke out of turn, or even mentioned Voldemort, Umbridge threw him into detention, forcing him to write with a Black Quill , that scribed the message "I must not tell lies" onto the back of his hand. However, she presumed the message had failed to sink in, as Harry spread the word through The Quibbler about the previous year's events, and thus he was banned from any more Hogsmeade visits. Later in the year, Ron was chosen to be a prefect , not him. It was later revealed that Ron was chosen instead of Harry because Dumbledore thought that Harry had "enough responsibility to be going on with". Harry's jealousy threatened to affect his friendship with Ron, but he felt better when he discovered that his father was also not chosen as a prefect at school.

This suggests that Harry's desire in becoming prefect was to emulate his father, who was Head Boy in his day with his mother as Head Girl respectively, not to inflate a sense of his own importance. Harry instructs Neville Longbottom and others during a D.A. meeting Because Fudge stubbornly believed that Dumbledore was training an army to overthrow him, Umbridge had the Defence Against the Dark Arts class reduced to reading textbooks. Urged by Hermione, Harry secretly trained a group of students in practical defensive magic. In an attempt to make light of the Ministry's fears, the group called themselves Dumbledore's Army (or the D.A.). Feeling highly anxious and frustrated most of the time, Harry found that the D.A. was now his chief source of happiness, and the thing to which he looked forward throughout his school day. This happiness was felt by most members, as all of them, particularly Neville Longbottom, gained a lot of skills under Harry's tutelage. Cho Chang became a member, and before the Christmas holidays, she and Harry kissed under the mistletoe in the Room of Requirement after a D.A. meeting.

This moment was confusing to Harry, as Cho, clearly still suffering from her ex-boyfriend's ( Cedric Diggory ) death, had been crying during their kiss. Cho's crying during the kiss also caused concern in Harry. Harry's first Occlumency lesson with Snape However, Harry took on some much more pressing worries later that night. Lord Voldemort , wanting a "secret weapon" against him, had heard of a prophecy hidden in the Ministry's Department of Mysteries concerning both of them. Voldemort had been obsessing over the door to the Hall of Prophecy for the past few months, and had been inadvertently allowing Harry to read his thoughts through Legilimency . The link between Harry and Voldemort's minds had been growing stronger for quite a while. As a result, after falling asleep on the night of his kiss with Cho, Harry witnessed Nagini attack Arthur Weasley in his dream, and felt almost as if he had been the snake. Realising what could happen if the link grew more powerful, Dumbledore commissioned Snape to train Harry in Occlumency in an effort to prevent further problems.

Unfortunately, Harry did not enjoy having his mind peered into and did not focus on using Occlumency, having indeed been extremely curious about the door himself. During a lesson in Occlumency, Snape stepped out of the room, and Harry's curiosity got the best of him. He looked into the pensieve , which contained Snape's memories, and, to his dismay, Harry found images of his father bullying Snape. Snape himself discovered Harry's spying. After discovering the spying Snape refused to give him any more Occlumency lessons, something that Harry was not particularly concerned about and something he did not inform anyone of. Umbridge discovers the D.A.'s meeting place (the Room of Requirement) As the second term progressed, Harry's relationship with Cho became more strained. While the two did like each other, Cho was mistakenly jealous of Hermione due to the latter's closeness with Harry, and Harry still felt awkward about Cho's feelings over Cedric. When Cho's friend, Marietta Edgecombe , betrayed the D.A. to Umbridge, the members were all punished and forced to end their meetings. Harry was furious with Marietta, but Cho insisted on defending her friend.

At this point, Cho's and Harry's relationship "fell apart", and the two no longer saw each other romantically. During the final Quidditch match of the year — in which Harry did not play as Umbridge had banned him for life — Hagrid , who had returned to the school months into the term and very badly beaten, decided to show Harry and Hermione why he was so badly injured. Hagrid had dragged a giant back with him from his mission over the summer. It transpired that the giant, named Grawp , was Hagrid's half-brother, and that Hagrid had been attempting to civilise the giant, but with few results. He made Harry and Hermione promise that they would look after Grawp should Hagrid be forced to leave the school. Hagrid was attacked and left the school during O.W.L. examinations, and Harry never had to go down to Grawp in the forest. Harry's false vision of Voldemort torturing Sirius Black in the Hall of Prophecy Eventually, late in the O.W.L. examinations on 18 June , Harry dozed off and received a vision of Voldemort torturing Sirius and ordering him to get the prophecy.

Harry was prepared to go to the Ministry immediately, but Hermione advised him to check Grimmauld Place first to see if Sirius was still there. Harry used the Floo Network in Umbridge's office to peer into Grimmauld Place, where Kreacher stated that Sirius was gone. Unfortunately, Umbridge caught Harry and his friends in the act. She asked Snape to extract information from Harry through the use of Veritaserum , but Snape claimed to have none left in his stocks. Umbridge then resorted to the Cruciatus Curse , revealing that it was she who set the Dementors loose on Harry. Hermione managed to save him by luring Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest. Once in the forest Umbridge attempted to harm Harry and Hermione, but was dragged off by centaurs for calling them "filthy half-breeds! Beasts!" and "creatures of near-human intelligence". Harry and Hermione escaped when Grawp stumbled into the centaur camp looking for Hagrid. The trio, along with D.A. members Ginny Weasley , Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood — who had assisted in Harry's attempt to contact Grimmauld Place — used Thestrals to fly to London.

Harry and Sirius duelling Death Eaters Lucius Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov After reaching the Department of Mysteries , Harry led them all through various rooms in search of Sirius, without finding him. The group became doubtful until they came across a room filled with crystal balls, later to be known as prophecies . One of the prophecies had Harry's name on it, and he picked it up, much to the displeasure of Hermione. Upon picking up the prophecy Death Eaters appeared, revealing that it was all a ruse to bring him there. Chaos ensued, and all but Harry and Neville were incapacitated in the fighting . Then reinforcements from the Order of the Phoenix, alerted by Snape, arrived to help aid in the battle. In the ensuing fighting, Sirius Black was murdered by a killing curse from his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange , and fell through a mysterious stone arch . Harry, enraged, pursued Bellatrix, using the Cruciatus Curse, but he was unable to kill her. Voldemort appeared, angered by the failures of his Death Eaters. For the second time, he attempted to fatally curse Harry, who was too transfixed to even defend himself, but Dumbledore's sudden arrival saved him.

Voldemort then fully possessed Harry, hoping that Dumbledore would sacrifice Harry in order to kill Voldemort. However, Voldemort was forced to leave Harry's body when Harry's grief for Sirius became too overwhelming to bear, as Voldemort did not understand the concept of love. Voldemort then grabbed Bellatrix and Disapparated , but not before the Minister and Ministry employees saw him and finally accepted that he was back. Dumbledore telling Harry the whole prophecy Back at Hogwarts, Harry appeared in Dumbledore's office and tried to get out after Phineas Nigellus Black mentioned Sirius, only to find the door locked. Harry was none too pleased about Dumbledore's name being mentioned by the portraits. When the Headmaster returned, Harry lost his temper and started destroying Dumbledore's possessions, trying to get Dumbledore to let him out; Dumbledore refused, asking Harry to sit down and listen to what Dumbledore needed to say. Dumbledore explained to Harry the real reason why Voldemort tried to kill him as an infant. A prophecy stated that he was destined to defeat the Dark Lord , for he had powers Voldemort did not: the ability to love , something that the Department of Mysteries was trying to research in a locked room.

As a result of the battle, the Ministry of Magic realised that Lord Voldemort had indeed returned, and Harry and Dumbledore were vindicated along with Sirius (though he didn't live long enough to enjoy his freedom, but was honoured as hero by the Ministry). Serious steps were taken following this change in policy, such as the dismissal of Umbridge. However, this was not a sea of change, as the Ministry still had a mistrust of Dumbledore. Sixth year Albus Dumbledore: "You are of course, wondering why I brought you here tonight?" Harry: "Actually sir, after all these years I sort of just go with it." — Dumbledore and Harry speak briefly of their tasks [src] In the wake of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries Harry was sent home to 4 Privet Drive for the summer holidays. There, he obsessed and brooded over his godfather's death where he hardly left his room and refused meals.

As the battle had taken place at one point in the famed Hall of Prophecy , many in the wizarding community including the Daily Prophet began to speculate about the relationship between Harry and that place, leading to, accidentally correct reports calling Harry "the Chosen One", the one destined to defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all. Dumbledore and Harry searching for Horace Slughorn Early in his summer, Dumbledore requested that Harry join him in some unknown adventure and arrived to pick Harry up on a Friday, late in the evening. However, they could not depart immediately, because there was a piece of business to attend to: Sirius's will . Much to his chagrin, Harry inherited his godfather Sirius Black's estate, including Grimmauld Place and the Blacks' melancholic and half-crazed house elf, Kreacher . They soon were off, and Dumbledore Apparated Harry to the village of Budleigh Babberton , where Harry was introduced to Horace Slughorn. In their time together, Harry and Slughorn discussed some of the professor's old students and the improved security at Hogwarts. When Harry and Dumbledore made to leave, Slughorn agreed to return to the school if he got a raise and a larger office.

Following their visit, Dumbledore dropped Harry off at The Burrow , where Harry spent the rest of the summer playing two-sided Quidditch , but not before informing Harry that he was to be given special lessons by Dumbledore himself. Later in the summer Harry learned that he had achieved seven O.W.L.s : one ' Outstanding ', [53] five ' Exceeds Expectations ', [53] and one ' Acceptable '. [53] He also received a surprise when he was made Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team . Harry with Professor Slughorn being handed the vial of Felix Felicis Having learned of Professor Slughorn's propensity for hand-picking favourites, Harry experienced this first-hand when he was invited to join Horace Slughorn's Slug Club during the ride to Hogwarts aboard the Hogwarts Express . He did not enjoy the experience, and made to leave as soon as possible. Instead of returning to his seat, Harry made to eavesdrop upon Draco Malfoy , who in a meeting weeks earlier had led Harry to believe he had taken the Dark Mark . What he heard did nothing to dispel his suspicions.

Arriving late to the Welcoming Feast, due to an encounter with Malfoy, Harry learned that Severus Snape had been promoted to Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. While this disappointed Harry greatly, his career as an Auror reopened, as Professor Slughorn would accept his 'Exceeds Expectations' score in Potions. Harry proceeded to take five classes this year: Charms , Defence Against the Dark Arts , Herbology , Potions , and Transfiguration . As Harry had not bothered to buy a text book, Slughorn allowed Harry to borrow an old one from the supply cabinet. When Harry examined it, he found that it once had belonged to a student identified only as the " Half-Blood Prince ". The book contained copious handwritten notes that helped Harry excel in Potions for once. In fact, his skills won him a prize from Slughorn — a small vial of Felix Felicis. Within the first week of school, Dumbledore made good on his promise of private lessons . He informed Harry that they would be viewing memories of Tom Riddle before he came to be known as Lord Voldemort, in order to learn his secrets and weaknesses.

Dumbledore promised Harry that this information would help him survive and would prove crucial to the eventual defeat of Lord Voldemort. In their first lesson, the pair delved into the origin of the boy Tom Riddle in the Gaunt family around Little Hangleton . The Saturday following Harry's first lesson, he assumed his Captain's duties holding open try-outs. After an arduous morning, Harry found three Chasers , one of which was Ginny Weasley , two Beaters , and Ron Weasley as Keeper , who had survived with Hermione's help . Throughout the autumn, Harry used Quidditch to dodge Professor Slughorn's Slug Club events, doing this because he disliked the idea and because it was kinder than leaving Ron alone as Hermione had been invited as well. A private lesson with Dumbledore, Harry about to view a memory in the Pensieve Harry's lessons were quite sporadic that autumn, and he did not have another one until after tragedy befell someone at Hogwarts. In October, during a Hogsmeade visit, Katie Bell was nearly killed after being bewitched to carry a cursed necklace to Dumbledore. The following Monday, Harry shared his suspicions of Malfoy with Dumbledore during their lesson, only to be rebuffed.

That evening, Dumbledore focused on Tom Riddle just as he was on the cusp of his Hogwarts years, and Harry discovered a troubled orphan who consciously used his magic to bully and intimidate the other children. Not long after that meeting, Quidditch season was upon them. In preparation for their first game, Harry replaced the injured Katie Bell with Dean Thomas . The change produced some results, both expected, as the team excelled on the pitch, and unexpected, as Harry found himself in a jealous rage after seeing Dean kissing Ginny after practise. The team's only problem was Ron, who was suffering from a lack of confidence. In an attempt to boost Ron's confidence, Harry blatantly acted as if he had spiked Ron's pumpkin juice with Felix Felicis . Ron took the bait and played a flawless match; however, Hermione took the bait as well and acted unkindly toward Ron and Harry. While she made up with Harry when he told her of the ruse, Ron's sudden relationship with Lavender Brown led to continued strife, as it spiked jealousy in Hermione.

Harry overhears a strange conversation between Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape While Harry attempted to reconcile his best friends, the Christmas holidays were fast approaching and with them the Slug Club Christmas party out of which Harry could not wrangle. Since "the Chosen One" rumours had been printed, Harry had received an unnatural amount of attention from the young ladies at Hogwarts, specifically a fourth year name Romilda Vane . As Harry could not ask Ginny to the party, he was left to ask Luna Lovegood to attend with him as a friend. This hugely disappointed the gaggles of giggling girls who awaited Harry below every doorway with mistletoe. At the party, Harry was surprised to learn that Hermione attended with Cormac McLaggen , a large Gryffindor seventh year whom Ron despised, and told her that it served her right when he was less than gentlemanly. Later, after Malfoy was apprehended "gate-crashing" the party, Harry learned that Malfoy was indeed up to something and that Professor Snape had made the Unbreakable Vow to protect him. Harry's Christmas was less than enjoyable, as he was cornered by the new Minister for Magic , Rufus Scrimgeour .

Scrimgeour had been hoping to speak with Harry for months and used Percy Weasley as his in, interrupting the Weasley family Christmas. He tried pitching Harry on becoming the Ministry's mascot, an idea that Harry was not prepared to accept. Upon returning to Hogwarts, Harry's sporadic lessons with Dumbledore continued. Early in January, Harry delved into a memory that all but proved that Riddle had murdered his own paternal family after his fifth year at Hogwarts . Then Dumbledore showed Harry a most curious memory, a memory that Professor Slughorn had apparently tampered with, and he gave Harry his first homework assignment: to get the real memory from Slughorn. After impressing Slughorn using a bezoar in class, Harry tried the direct approach only to be instantly shot down. Harry retrieves the true memory from Slughorn By 1 March , Harry had still not acquired Slughorn's true memory and had begun to grow more obsessed with Draco Malfoy. That morning he awoke to find Ron under the influence of a very powerful love potion , and he took him to Slughorn, only for Ron to end up poisoned . This was enough for Hermione to overcome her animosity toward Ron, and the three became friends again.

Ron survived, but was not fit for the upcoming Quidditch match, so he was replaced by McLaggen. This turned out to be a bad choice, as McLaggen accidentally knocked Harry unconscious mid-match. Upon his recovery, Harry had yet another lesson with the Headmaster. In it, he was upbraided by Dumbledore for not completing his assignment, witnessed the young Tom Riddle murder Hepzibah Smith for the famous artefacts ( Slytherin's Locket and Hufflepuff's Cup ) she owned, and jinx the Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts. However, Harry still could not figure out how to obtain the memory and focused on Malfoy. His interest was bordering on obsession, when Ron came up with the solution to Harry's dilemma with Slughorn: Felix Felicis. In the evening, Harry took the potion and not only managed to obtain the memory, but also solved many of his and his friends's problems, including breaking up not only Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas, but also Ron and his overly clingy girlfriend Lavender Brown. Harry and Ginny kiss for the first time, thus beginning their romantic relationship Even though it was after midnight, Harry immediately went to Dumbledore with the new memory.

It confirmed Dumbledore's theory that Lord Voldemort had created multiple Horcruxes to ensure his immortality . Together, they theorised that the Dark Lord had created Horcruxes out of special objects such as Riddle's diary and Slytherin's locket. Before Harry left, Dumbledore promised to let Harry join him if he found another Horcrux. With the memory found, Harry had only Quidditch and Malfoy on his mind. In the week prior to the final Quidditch match, Harry discovered Malfoy crying in the toilet, and a duel ensued. With Malfoy on the verge of using an Unforgivable Curse , Harry cast Sectumsempra , a curse with unknown effects that he found in the Half-Blood Prince's book . The curse nearly killed Malfoy and earning Harry indefinite Saturday detentions. Unable to play, Harry waited with anticipation as he sat through his first detention. When he arrived back at Gryffindor Tower he was happy to discover that they had won the Quidditch Cup . In the heat of the moment he spontaneously kissed Ginny while over fifty people watched, about whom he had been thinking quite often, when she embraced him in the post-match elation; this marked the beginning of their relationship.

Harry and Dumbledore in the cave overwhelmed by Inferi On 30 June , Dumbledore led Harry out of the castle in search of a Horcrux . From Hogsmeade , they Apparated to a sea-side cave , where Tom Riddle had traumatised two young children from his orphanage in his youth. The cave was difficult to enter with a toll paid in blood, and to get to the island in the centre of the cave there was only a small boat, only made to fit one. Once on the island, Dumbledore found a basin from which he could not remove the Horcrux without drinking the emerald potion that the Horcrux resided in. Dumbledore extracted a promise from Harry that he would force him to drink, no matter how much he tried to persuade him not to. With this promise, Dumbledore drank and Harry watched as Dumbledore was driven out of his mind, but upheld his promise. When the basin was empty Dumbledore asked for water which Harry was forced to get from the lake, triggering the Inferi that were waiting there. Panicking, Harry was dragged below, but was saved when an incredibly weakened Dumbledore conjured a firestorm that fended off the Inferi.

Harry then proceeded to Apparate them back to Hogsmeade Village . After a short broomstick ride through the village they landed atop the Astronomy Tower . Once on the tower they discovered that Hogwarts had been invaded by Death Eaters , but Harry's friends Ron, Hermione, Luna , Neville , and Ginny, who had been ordered by Harry to watch the school lest Malfoy accomplish his nefarious goal. The D.A. members battled alongside the Order of the Phoenix , on the floor below Harry and Dumbledore, with some help from the remainder of Harry's vial of Felix Felicis. Dumbledore had stopped Harry from fighting and frozen him against a wall with a Freezing Charm , hidden underneath his invisibility cloak , so all he could do was helplessly watch and wait. Harry witnesses Albus Dumbledore 's death at the hands of Severus Snape Harry witnessed the death of Albus Dumbledore at the hands of Severus Snape , and Dumbledore's body then plummeted from the tallest tower at Hogwarts. With Dumbledore dead, Harry was free of the spell that petrified him. He immediately set off after Snape, petrifying a Death Eater and seeking revenge.

As the Death Eaters made their way out of Hogwarts Castle and on to the grounds, trying to reach the border where they would be able to Apparate again, Harry pursued and faced off against Snape. Harry tried many times to defeat Snape, even weakly attempting the Cruciatus Curse and Snape's own hand crafted spells, all with no effect. In the process, Snape identified himself as the Half-Blood Prince, and escaped Hogwarts with Draco Malfoy and the other Death Eaters. Hagrid found Harry and together they managed to extinguish the fire that burnt Hagrid's hut (caused by Thorfinn Rowle ). Harry then told Hagrid that "Snape killed Dumbledore", but Hagrid refused to believe him. Harry (along with Hagrid) returned to the castle to find people staring at Dumbledore's crippled and lifeless body. Harry moved forward and found his mentor's body lying completely still on the ground and Hagrid finally believed him. Harry started to cry over Dumbledore's body where he was comforted by Ginny.

Harry took the locket from Dumbledore's robes and was beside himself when he learned it was just a plain bit of jewellery, a decoy; there was a note inside the locket that revealed the real Horcrux was taken by someone called ' R.A.B. '. It appeared to Harry that Dumbledore had died in vain and that they had achieved nothing that night. Ginny escorted Harry to the Hospital Wing on McGonagall 's orders, where he found Neville apparently asleep in bed, as well as: Ron, Hermione, Luna, Tonks , Lupin , Madam Pomfrey , and Ron's brother Bill Weasley who had been horribly scarred by Fenrir Greyback . When Ginny announced that Dumbledore was dead, everyone appeared horrified. Harry explained to everyone what had happened on the Astronomy Tower and when he was finished, they were all shocked by what he had said. Harry attending Dumbledore's funeral (left side, sixth row) Following the death of Albus Dumbledore, his funeral was carried out. Harry was disgusted to see that Dolores Umbridge and Rita Skeeter had the nerve to attend his funeral, but he did not want to make a scene at Dumbledore's funeral and bit his tongue.

Knowing that he would have to hunt down Voldemort's Horcruxes and, fearing for her safety, Harry took Ginny aside, and broke off their romance. Ginny told him that she did not care about the danger of being his girlfriend, but Harry still thought it was best if the two stopped seeing each other. He then spoke to Ron and Hermione, who committed to forgoing their final year at Hogwarts in order to accompany him, despite his protests. Horcrux hunt (1997-1998) Hermione Granger: "You said to us once before that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we?" Ron Weasley: "We're with you, whatever happens mate." — Hermione and Ron vowing to help Harry with his hunt for Horcruxes [src] Harry and Petunia saying their goodbyes to each other After Albus Dumbledore 's death (Dumbledore was the one who began the hunt in July 1996) at the hands of Severus Snape during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower , the mission fell to Harry Potter to complete. He was joined by Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

With four Horcruxes remaining (plus the unknown soul fragment residing inside Harry) the trio made plans. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all remained committed to their goal to locate and destroy Voldemort 's Horcruxes . To protect their families Hermione altered her parents' memories so that they forgot they had a daughter, then instructed them to move to Australia, and with some help from Fred, George, and their father, Ron transfigured the family ghoul to resemble himself with Spattergroit . Harry's aunt and uncle were taken into hiding by several members of the Order of the Phoenix , such as Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones , despite many misgivings on the part of the Dursleys. Battle of the Seven Potters Hermione Granger: "I told them you'd take it like this." Harry: "If you think I'm going to let six people risk their lives — !" Ron Weasley : "— because it's the first time for all of us." — The trio arguing over the seven Potters plan [src] The seven Potters Harry stayed at 4 Privet Drive for a time, but the Order of the Phoenix needed to evacuate him to the Burrow before he turned seventeen.

On 27 July the Order sent the Dursleys into hiding first; Harry was surprised by Dudley 's gratitude towards him and his goodbye. Six out of thirteen of Harry's escorts took Polyjuice Potion to take on Harry's appearance in order to be diversions if they were attacked, despite Harry's protests. Harry also secretly thought that he wished they would respect his body more. Upon leaving, the group was attacked by over thirty cloaked Death Eaters . Harry rode with Hagrid on his godfather Sirius' old motorbike , that had been modified. They were attacked by multiple Death Eaters, including an Imperiused Stan Shunpike and eventually Lord Voldemort himself, who had invented and mastered unsupported flight . Harry's wand retaliated automatically against Voldemort during the battle Harry's owl Hedwig was hit by a stray Killing Curse a Death Eater sent Harry's way. When Voldemort caught up with them, Harry thought this was the end, but his wand acted on its own to strike out at the man who was both "kin and mortal enemy", destroying Voldemort's borrowed wand.

The chaos ended when Harry and Hagrid passed the protective enchantments placed over the house of Nymphadora Tonks ' parents, although Harry was still completely grief-stricken over the death of his beloved owl. After finding Hagrid safe and sound, the pair took a Portkey to the Burrow, where he found a worried Molly and Ginny Weasley standing watch outside in the darkness. Harry and others safely at The Burrow after participating in the sky battle earlier that night Harry was relieved to see that Hermione and Ron were fine, but was shocked when Remus Lupin arrived with George Weasley , who had lost an ear. Everyone else arrived safely, but Alastor Moody who had been murdered by Voldemort and Mundungus Fletcher , who had Disapparated as soon as the fight started. Many amongst those gathered at the Burrow believed that they had been betrayed, but Harry refused to believe any of those he loved would sell him to Voldemort, much to the chagrin of Remus Lupin. Harry then stormed outside, where he was struck by a vision of Voldemort torturing Ollivander . Time at the Burrow Rufus Scrimgeour: "Remembered you're not at school, have you?

Remembered that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination? You may wear that scar like a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you learned some respect!" Harry: "It's time you earned it." — During the reading of Albus Dumbledore's will [src] Once settled in at the Burrow, Harry, Ron , and Hermione helped prepare the wedding ceremony of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour . The day before the wedding, the group celebrated Harry's seventeenth birthday. Harry received a watch from Mr and Mrs Weasley, a traditional coming-of-age gift. Ginny also gave him the most passionate kiss they have ever shared. It was something to remember her by in case he "meets some veela" during the Horcrux hunt . Harry responded by saying that "dating opportunities will be thin". The pair was then interrupted by Ron and Hermione. Scrimgeour gives the first Snitch Harry caught, willed to him by Albus Dumbledore At the party that night, Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour arrived to release the contents of Albus Dumbledore's will.

Harry was left the first Snitch he had ever caught in a Quidditch match and Godric Gryffindor's Sword ; Scrimgeour withheld this second gift, claiming that it was a historical magical item and was not exclusively Harry's property. Noting that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only students mentioned by name in the will, he asked the trio why this was; the three were unable to give him an answer. On 1 August , Harry attended Bill and Fleur's wedding disguised as a distant Weasley cousin, Barny Weasley. They used polyjuice potion and the hairs of a red-haired Muggle boy from the village to disguise him. The reception was interrupted when the Patronus of Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived and announced the fall of the Ministry of Magic and the death of Rufus Scrimgeour. Chaos erupted and guests started to flee, while Harry and Hermione drew their wands and grabbed Ron before Disapparating to Tottenham Court Road . The trio duelling Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle in Luchino café There, Hermione revealed that she had planned ahead, packing supplies in her bag, which had an Undetectable Extension Charm on it.

Ron changed, and Harry put on his Invisibility cloak , and the three then entered a nearby café to hang low for a while. Whilst at the café, Ron and Hermione discussed the events of the wedding and Voldemort's coup. They unwittingly broke the Taboo curse that had been placed on Voldemort's name when the Death Eaters overthrew the Ministry of Magic, alerting Death Eaters Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle to their location. After a brief skirmish , the trio defeated the Death Eaters, whose memories Hermione wiped at Harry's suggestion. Harry, Ron, and Hermione then found refuge at 12 Grimmauld Place . Infiltrating the Ministry and obtaining the locket Harry Potter's seventeenth birthday | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Harry Potter's seventeenth birthday Harry Potter's seventeenth birthday party Event information [Source] Molly Weasley: "I’ve been wanting to ask you how you want to celebrate your birthday, Harry. Seventeen, after all, it’s an important day...." Harry Potter: "I don’t want a fuss. Really, Mrs Weasley, just a normal dinner would be fine... It’s the day before the wedding...

please, don’t go to loads of trouble." — Molly and Harry regarding his birthday party [src] A party was held at the Burrow in Devon , England for Harry Potter 's seventeenth birthday on 31 July , 1997 . The party took place days after the Order of the Phoenix removed Harry from his relatives' home, battling Death Eaters in the process and the day before the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour was held at the Burrow. The party was interrupted by the arrival of Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour , who wanted Harry to support the Ministry of Magic during the Second Wizarding War . Contents Main article: Battle of the Seven Potters "And then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded. At least thirty hooded figures, suspended in midair, formed a vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen, oblivious —.

Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell and the motorbike rolled over." —Description of the Battle of the Seven Potters [src] The seven Potters Harry Potter lived with his maternal relatives, the Dursley family , after his father and mother were murdered by Lord Voldemort on 31 October , 1981 . Because his aunt Petunia Dursley is the older sister of Harry's mother, whose loving sacrifice protected him from Voldemort's Killing Curse , Harry was protected by ancient magic while he lived with his aunt. This protection would expire when Harry became an adult in the wizarding world, on his seventeenth birthday of 31 July , 1997 . The Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters were both aware of this. Thus, the Death Eaters manipulated the Ministry of Magic to cut off Harry's means of transportation away from 4 Privet Drive , and the Order made a plan to remove Harry on 27 July . The Order used Polyjuice Potion to disguise six members as Harry, so that seven teams of two would fly away from Little Whinging to divert anyone if they were attacked.

The group was attacked by at least thirty Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. [1] Harry was brought to safety at the Burrow , but Alastor Moody and Harry's owl Hedwig were killed in the process. [2] Birthday celebrations Presents in the morning Molly Weasley: "Arthur told me to wish you a happy seventeenth, Harry. He had to leave early for work, but he'll be back for dinner. That's our present on top... It's traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age..." Hermione Granger: "Happy birthday, Harry! It's not much, but I hope you like it." — Molly and Hermione giving Harry his presents [src] When Harry awoke on the morning of his seventeenth birthday, he immediately used magic , summoning his glasses. Ron Weasley gave him his present right away, not wanting his mother to see it. It was a copy of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches , a book that Ron had been given previously by his older brothers Fred and George . Ron found it extremely useful for dealing with girls. The boys then headed downstairs for breakfast, where Mrs Weasley and Monsieur and Apolline Delacour all wished Harry a happy birthday.

Harry also received a variety of presents, including a watch from Mrs Weasley that had once belonged to her late brother Fabian Prewett , which he hugged her in thanks for. Hermione Granger then entered the kitchen with her gift for Harry, a new Sneakoscope . Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour gave him an enchanted razor , the Delacours gave him chocolates, and Fred and George gave him an enormous box of merchandise from their joke shop . [3] Harry and Ginny Ginny Weasley: "I couldn't think what to get you... I didn't know what would be useful. Nothing too big, because you wouldn't be able to take it with you.

So then I thought, I'd like you to have something to remember me by, you know, if you meet some veela when you're off doing whatever you're doing." Harry Potter: "I think dating opportunities are going to be pretty thin on the ground, to be honest." Ginny Weasley: "There's the silver lining I've been looking for." — Ginny and Harry right before she gives him a kiss for his birthday present [src] Ginny giving Harry his birthday present After breakfast, Ginny Weasley approached Harry and asked to speak to him alone in her bedroom. Although Ron did not like the idea, Hermione pulled him away, and Harry followed Ginny into her room. There, Ginny said that she did not know what to get him for his birthday, and then kissed Harry as she had never kissed him before. They were interrupted by Ron and Hermione; the former angrily reminded Harry that he had broken up with Ginny and that he should not be "messing her around". Harry regretfully agreed that it would not happen again. [3] Dinner Rubeus Hagrid: "Seventeen, eh! Six years ter the day since we met, Harry, d'yeh remember it?" Harry Potter: "Vaguely.

Didn't you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig's tail, and tell me I was a wizard?" — Harry and Hagrid at dinner [src] For Harry's celebratory dinner, Fred and George bewitched a number of purple lanterns with "17" on them to hang above the kitchen and Hermione conjured purple and gold streamers to be draped around the trees and bushes, and turned a crabapple tree to gold. Charles Weasley , Rubeus Hagrid , Remus Lupin , and Nymphadora Tonks also joined everyone for dinner. Mrs Weasley baked a cake in the form of a Golden Snitch , sized bigger like a beach-ball , and Hagrid gave Harry his gift of a pouch . Before the dinner could get started, however, Arthur Weasley 's Patronus arrived to warn the guests that Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour was accompanying him to the Burrow. Remus and Tonks quickly left, since the two had recently married and the Ministry of Magic had anti-werewolf legislation in effect. Arthur and Scrimgeour arrived shortly afterward, and the latter requested a private word with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

[3] Dumbledore's will Rufus Scrimgeour: "Sorry to intrude. Especially as I can see that I am gate-crashing a party. Many happy returns." Harry Potter: "Thanks." Rufus Scrimgeour: "I require a private word with you. Also with Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger." — Rufus Scrimgeour interrupts the party [src] Scrimgeour gives the first Snitch Harry caught, willed to him by Albus Dumbledore Once in the sitting room, Scrimegour wanted to speak to each of them individually, but Harry refused. Scrimgeour then explained to them that they had all been bequeathed items in Albus Dumbledore's will . To Harry, Dumbledore had left the first Snitch he ever caught as well as Godric Gryffindor's Sword . To Ron, he left a Deluminator , and to Hermione, a first edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard . The Ministry had held the will and its contents under the Decree for Justifiable Confiscation for 31 days, as they suspected that Dumbledore was attempting to communicate secret information to the trio.

Scrimgeour suspiciously questioned all three of them, but ultimately turned over all the objects but the Sword, which he argued did not belong to Dumbledore and was not his to give. Scrimgeour also attempted to convince Harry to support the Ministry for the second time, and again, Harry turned him down, reminding him that he did not agree with the Ministry's methods, such as their cover-up of the recent break-out of Azkaban prisoners. Scrimgeour left in a fury. Afterwards, everybody ate dinner quickly, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione met once everyone had gone to bed to discuss what had happened. [3] It was not until much later that they realised the full significance of Dumbledore's will, and how it assisted them in their search for the Horcruxes and knowledge of the Deathly Hallows . Trend Network: Why This Is Harry Potter’s Most Important Birthday Yet Why This Is Harry Potter’s Most Important Birthday Yet Sunday - July 31st, 2016 433 Tweet For Harry Potter fans, July 31 is more than just the last day of the month. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in J.K.

Rowling’s seven-part series, begins as Harry turns 11 and is invited to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book and subsequent film begins around Harry’s birthday—which falls on the same day as Rowling’s—so it only makes sense that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , the so-called eighth story in the series, will be released on July 31, 2016. The text for the play, already a critical and commercial hit on London’s West End, has blown past presale records on Amazon and is expected to be Barnes and Noble’s biggest book of the year. Rowling has never clarified Harry’s actual birth year, but fans have guessed that the character would be turning 36 in 2016. We first got a glimpse of Harry, Ron and Hermione as thirtysomethings in 2014, when Rowling released a short story about them, written from the perspective of gossip columnist Rita Skeeter, on fansite Pottermore. Now, readers will have a full play to explore that universe—and that isn’t all that’s coming to Harry Potter fans this year.

There’s also an illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets coming in October and the November release of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie, with a screenplay written by Rowling. Muggles can also look ahead to updated editions of Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard in 2017, featuring new content from Rowling plus Hogwarts-themed editions of Harry Potter in the Philosopher’s Stone in the U.K. to the mark the 20th anniversary of the book’s publication there (it wasn’t published in the U.S. until 1997). While fans rejoice in all these additions to their beloved canon—even though some critics have lamented Rowling’s inability to leave her blockbuster franchise alone—her persistent meddling in Potterworld has made at least one thing clear: July 31 might mark Harry’s biggest birthday yet. A lot has changed since 1997 when Sorcerer’s Stone was published in the U.S. — and even in the nine years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007.

Gone are the days of waiting in line at midnight to get your hands on a book—now those who have preordered Cursed Child can download it at midnight in their local time zone. Of course, some fans (myself included) will still venture for a hard copy, but people will be Instagramming the text, Snapchatting their reactions and avoiding social media for fear of spoilers. Rowling already addressed the spoiler problem , issuing a plea for fans lucky enough to see the play in London to #KeepTheSecrets. For some, the date is a pleasant and nostalgic reminder of Harry’s first birthday in the series, when Hagrid brought Harry a cake on the same night he told the boy wizard that he was capable of magic. For others, though, July 31 is not just a nod back to the beginning of the series but a way to continue celebrating Harry as if he, and his birthday, were real. ‘The Boy Who Lived’ is the first chapter of the Potter series, wherein readers meet Harry as a newborn shortly after surviving a killing curse. Harry survived this, and other battles, despite the odds stacked against him.

It seems that this July 31, he’ll simply start doing it again, reminding Potter fans and critics alike why he’ll forever be The Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Harry Potter Birthday The book is being released in an entirely new era of content consumption and communication + READ ARTICLE For Harry Potter fans, July 31 is more than just the last day of the month. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in J.K. Rowling’s seven-part series, begins as Harry turns 11 and is invited to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book and subsequent film begins around Harry’s birthday—which falls on the same day as Rowling’s—so it only makes sense that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , the so-called eighth story in the series, will be released on July 31, 2016. The text for the play, already a critical and commercial hit on London’s West End, has blown past presale records on Amazon and is expected to be Barnes and Noble’s biggest book of the year.

Rowling has never clarified Harry’s actual birth year, but fans have guessed that the character would be turning 36 in 2016. We first got a glimpse of Harry, Ron and Hermione as thirtysomethings in 2014, when Rowling released a short story about them, written from the perspective of gossip columnist Rita Skeeter, on fansite Pottermore. Now, readers will have a full play to explore that universe—and that isn’t all that’s coming to Harry Potter fans this year. There’s also an illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets coming in October and the November release of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie, with a screenplay written by Rowling. Muggles can also look ahead to updated editions of Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard in 2017, featuring new content from Rowling plus Hogwarts-themed editions of Harry Potter in the Philosopher’s Stone in the U.K. to the mark the 20th anniversary of the book’s publication there (it wasn’t published in the U.S. until 1997).

While fans rejoice in all these additions to their beloved canon—even though some critics have lamented Rowling’s inability to leave her blockbuster franchise alone—her persistent meddling in Potterworld has made at least one thing clear: July 31 might mark Harry’s biggest birthday yet. A lot has changed since 1997 when Sorcerer’s Stone was published in the U.S. — and even in the nine years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Gone are the days of waiting in line at midnight to get your hands on a book—now those who have preordered Cursed Child can download it at midnight in their local time zone. Of course, some fans (myself included) will still venture for a hard copy, but people will be Instagramming the text, Snapchatting their reactions and avoiding social media for fear of spoilers. Rowling already addressed the spoiler problem , issuing a plea for fans lucky enough to see the play in London to #KeepTheSecrets. For some, the date is a pleasant and nostalgic reminder of Harry’s first birthday in the series, when Hagrid brought Harry a cake on the same night he told the boy wizard that he was capable of magic.

For others, though, July 31 is not just a nod back to the beginning of the series but a way to continue celebrating Harry as if he, and his birthday, were real. ‘The Boy Who Lived’ is the first chapter of the Potter series, wherein readers meet Harry as a newborn shortly after surviving a killing curse. Harry survived this, and other battles, despite the odds stacked against him. It seems that this July 31, he’ll simply start doing it again, reminding Potter fans and critics alike why he’ll forever be The Boy Who Lived. Ranking Harry Potter's seven book birthdays, in celebration of his 36 years today Ranking Harry Potter's seven book birthdays, in celebration of his 36 years today July 31, 2016 2:36 pm Warner Bros. The Boy Who Lived turns 36 years today. Which means all three of his fictional children are born and we have exactly one year, one month and one day until the IRL day of the epilogue takes place (but who’s counting?).

It’s also the first day we’ve gotten a novel-length canon Harry Potter book in over nine years, you guys – the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is out today, meaning those who aren’t able to see the play anytime soon can get their Potter fix and the rest of us (ahem) will spend the next however many months attempting to avoid spoilers. But today is about Harry. So here is a ranking, from worst to best, of his birthday celebrations (or lack thereof) during his time at Hogwarts. 1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Yes, Harry gets to spend his 17th birthday away from the confines of the Dursleys’ house and with his real family, aka the Weasleys. But it’s marred badly by the loss of loved ones: Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody (and George’s ear). Dude can’t even relax for two seconds, since Rufus Scrimgeour crashes Harry’s party to execute Dumbledore’s extremely vague will. At least Harry and Ginny get to make out for a second before Ron busts in to ruin that too (as usual). Warner Bros. / 66.media.tumblr.com 2.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets This chapter is literally called “The Worst Birthday.” We happen to disagree obviously since we am ranking it second worst, but it is pretty bad. From Dobby showing up with an armful of undelivered letters from Harry’s pals, to wreaking havoc and ensuring Harry is the one who has to deal with the consequences of the whole pudding incident, his 12th birthday definitely sucks until he gets to ride in that sweet flying Ford Anglia. Warner Bros. / data.whicdn.com 3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry’s actual 15th birthday isn’t touched on all that much in this book – probably because he was too busy being angsty and whiny over his friends not being able to write to him because of secrecy-related issues. But between battling Dementors and the Ministry in the aftermath of Voldemort’s return to power and Cedric’s death, it’s safe to say 1995 wasn’t Harry’s year. 4.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince In HBP, Harry gets to celebrate his 16th birthday with the Weasleys, but again, that whole “People are dying” thing kind of puts a damper on all the festivities. Lupin shows up all depressed because he can’t handle the fact that Tonks loves him, and tells every Karkaroff’s been found dead. Which isn’t that huge a loss, but the discussion turns to the disappearances of Ollivander and Florean Fortescue and then everyone’s upset. At least there was cake. 5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban The year Harry becomes a teenager is cool because he learns he has a godfather who is also a dog. He also gets some pretty sweet presents from Ron (a Sneakoscope) and Hermione (a fancy broom-care kit). Nothing else notable happens during this actual birthday, but hey, no one dies! Aunt Marge makes this time period suck in general, but at least he gets to ride the Knight Bus. 6.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire This one is similar to PoA because we don’t hear a whole lot about Harry’s ACTUAL birthday, but he gets to go to the Quidditch World Cup over the summer and that’s good enough to put his 14th birthday high on this list. Sure, the Dark Mark shows up, but nothing crazy has gone down until the end of this book. Harry is still a kid for one more year, and it’s beautiful. Warner Bros. / s1.favim.com 7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone It’s hard to argue that when you find out you’re leaving your abusive household, AND you’re a wizard, AND you go to a magical village to buy a ton of magical objects after learning you’ve inherited a huge fortune all in the same day that it’s not the best birthday of all time. Harry likely had a hard time topping this one over his next 25 years, gooey chocolate cake and all. Harry Potter's Birthday Party | Auntie's Bookstore Home » Harry Potter's Birthday Party Harry Potter's Birthday Party Thanks to everyone who RSVP'd. Unfortunately, this event is now full.

Sign up for our e-newsletter if you would like to receive information about next year's party. Harry Potter Turns 33 Years Old: It's that time of year again, when the spirit of the season fills our hearts with a love for our fellow Muggle, Witch or Wizard. Don your dress robes and crack open some Butterbeer. July is the month when Harry Potter was born and the month when we pause to celebrate all that he has given us. Join us to celebrate together at Auntie's Bookstore. We expecto see you there for food, games, and prizes. Please pre-register with Andrea or Janelle at 838-0206. NOTE: There will be a Care of Magical Creatures class (owl presentation) during the party that will begin at 11:30. It will be restricted to children only, as we can only allow 50 people in the presentation area. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Harry Potter Birthday Controversy Select month and date: How Old Is Harry Anyway? J. K. Rowling has told us that Harry's birthday is July 31, which happens to be her birthday, too. But what year was Harry born?

Near the beginning of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone it says that "tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry's eleventh birthday." July 31 doesn't fall on a Tuesday very often. Most readers of that first book assumed that, because it was published in 1997, Harry attended Hogwarts during the 1990s. In 1990, July 31 fell on a Tuesday. This would mean that Harry was born in 1979 and would turn 23 in 2002. But wait—this theory is contradicted by evidence in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in which Harry helped celebrate Nearly Headless Nick's deathday anniversary on October 31, 1992. Harry was 12 at that time. So this would mean that Harry was born in 1980, and that he would turn 22 in 2002. Anyway, does it matter exactly when the books take place? They are, after all, fantasy. Maybe there are contradictory dates because time doesn't pass exactly the same way in the books' world as it does in ours.

Or maybe calendars in the land of fantasy don't have to follow our rules! RELATED LINKS All about J. K. Rowling More Harry Hullabaloo It looks like most of the 2002 Harry Potter news will be movie-related. The video and DVD of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone were released at the end of May. The trailer for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which included a first glimpse of Dobby the House Elf, was released the following month. The new film is scheduled to debut November 15. Harry Potter fans in China have gotten their hands on a fifth Harry Potter novel—but J. K. Rowling had nothing to do with it. It's a fake called Harry Potter and Leopard-Walk-Up-Dragon, and it's selling like hotcakes. In the book, Harry has shape-shifted into a plump and furry dwarf who must battle an evil dragon. There is no word yet on whether Rowling's representatives will sue.

Some Years That July 31 Falls on a Tuesday Advertisement Advertisement Chelmsford library celebrates Harry Potter's birthday - News - Chelmsford Independent - Chelmsford, MA Chelmsford library celebrates Harry Potter's birthday Monday Aug 1, 2016 at 1:29 PM Aug 1, 2016 at 1:29 PM Margaret Smith msmith@wickedlocal.com @chelmsford It was a day for magic and craft-making, as young wizards and witches gathered July 30 at the annual Harry Potter birthday party at Chelmsford Public Library. The party takes place each year around the character's birthday, which the "Harry Potter" series author, J.K. Rowling, gives as July 31. It's a time to celebrate all things of the "Harry Potter" world, a parallel universe in which epic battles of good and evil are played out. At the epicenter is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry and his friends study to become fully vested in the magical arts. In the series, Hogwarts is located in a remote part of Scotland, but to the outside world, appears only as a medieval ruin.

At the party, participants got to make wands out of pretzels and candy, have a piece of cake in honor of the special day and properly enter the school by being sorted into one of Hogwarts' four houses. As any true Potter fan will be able to say, they are: n Gryffindor, Harry's own house, known for bravery and team spirit but also stubbornness; n Slytherin, which produced the most evil wizard of all, Voldemort, but which also produced Severus Snape, a shadowy figure who ultimately protected Harry; n Ravenclaw, the house of several of Harry's friends, including the eccentric Luna Lovegood; n Huffelpuff, a house of rivalry in Quidditch, a risky game played high in the air on broomsticks. Nithya Pradeep attended the party with her son Shashank, 4, who was wearing a Gryffindor button. Pradeep said Shashank is a budding "Harry Potter" fan. "I love it. My husband and I read all the books, and watched all the movies," said Pradeep. She said Shashank is starting to follow along.

Referring to a church parsonage in the town center, Pradeep said, "He thinks the castle at the church is Harry Potter's school." Noah Finkel of Chelmsford brought his son Alden, 6, and daughter, Madeline, 8. "Both of my kids love 'Harry Potter.' My daughter has read all the books," Finkel said. Alden was sporting a Slytherin button. Asked about the button, Finkel said the children attended a "sorting hat" ceremony. In the series, an opinionated, talking hat placed on each student's head determines the students' houses during their time at Hogwarts. At the party, a quiz of personality characteristics aided the decision. Finkel said Alden got Slytherin because, apparently, "he is good at confrontation and blackmail." Finkel said, "I'm so glad this party is here. I'm impressed that this is put on by the town." A group of dedicated volunteers makes the party possible, said organizer Jen Petro-Roy, the teen services librarian. "Eight volunteers working with me, we all planned it," Petro-Roy said.

"We worked together for the past two weeks." Petro-Roy said the wand-making station was a big highlight, as well as the sorting hat ceremony. Petro-Roy said children who wanted to be sorted into a different house were allowed to switch. The birthday party has been an annual tradition at the library for about 10 years. Petro-Roy said that adding to this year's fun was the release of a new book, "Harry Potter And The Cursed Child," which was set for release July 31. "'Harry Potter' is still at the forefront of culture," Petro-Roy said.

Question: In the Harry Potter series of books during which month of the year is Harry Potter’s birthday?
Answer: July